Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: N3BA VCTCXO Module

Category: Third-party Equipment

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : N3BA VCTCXO Module
Reviews: 29MSRP: 75
Description:
Direct replacement for the Kenwood SO-2 Hi Stability Oscillator
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15295
AI4FR Rating: 2023-03-31
Instant on stable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have a Kenwood TS-450 that took about 2 hours before it settled down and was on frequency. In my search for a Kenwood SO-2 I ran into the reviews here at eham about N3BA's VCTCXO replacement. Some of the reviews claimed it was better than the original Kenwood SO-2 unit. I was excited until I realized the reviews were several years old. I took a chance and contacted Bob, N3BA. As my luck would have it he just sold his last one. Bob told me not to worry as he was about to make another batch. Less than a week later his VCTCXO arrived and was perfect. Install into the TS-450 was simple and it solved that annoying 2 hour warm up period. Thank you Bob!!!
KF0ACN Rating: 2020-12-15
Perfect! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have a Kenwood TS-850S that has been well taken care of, but still had slight drift. I found this TCXO and I purchased it and got it installed... worked and was bang on frequency!

I ran it on normal temperatures all the way down to 50F without missing a beat! Great and reliable product!
N2YG Rating: 2019-08-25
Just Perfect Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After I installed this TCXO, my Kenwood TS-870 displayed an error message. Turned out it was my own fault -- when installing the TCXO I accidentally pulled a ribbon cable from the board. Once reattached, the radio was fine and the stability was perfect. Frequencies are now dead-on. Thanks for a great product at a reasonable price.
EA4CWW Rating: 2019-03-10
Great product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've bought one for my Kenwood TS-850S. Great product and Robert, N3BA is a very nice person to deal with.
K5YDD Rating: 2018-04-05
I was so happy with one, I bought a second for another radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I was so impressed with how VCTCXO worked in my Kenwood TS-450, I bought one for my Kenwood TS-870. It took the radio to the next step very stable. Instant on stable.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by K5YDD on 2017-12-02

I installed one in my Kenwood TS-450. It has made the 450 rock solid stable. No more 25 minute warm up. I was so impressed, I just ordered another one for my Kenwood TS-870.
VK6CE Rating: 2018-04-04
INTO TS-940S WITH ADAPTOR Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I queried Bob about the TCXO for my TS-940S. He was quick to respond and supplied the relevant adaptor to suit the TS-940S.

It was spot-on frequency and did not require adjustment out of the box. Unit works great with solid stability. Great alternative to the hard to find and expensive SO-1 TCXO unit.

Follow the supplied instructions, on ALL the pages.

I will be buying more ...

ChrisH VK6CE
AD8Y Rating: 2018-04-01
Excellen! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Within 0.5 Hz out of the box, so a factor of 30 or 40 better than the stock crystal oscillator. Installation in the TS-450 does involve dissecting out two circuit boards from a tangle of cables, but it’s not impossible. Use a magnetized screwdriver! One screw on mine fell into the nether places of another board deck and required yet more dismantling to remove. That’s all my fault, has nothing to do with Bob’s board.
WW5US Rating: 2018-03-04
WW5US Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Let me start by saying that Bob is a great guy to deal with.The first tcxo was lost ,Bob immediately sent another unit. I installed it in a Kenwood TS870. The unit was dead on frequency without any tweaking at all. Super price to pay if you want your radio on frequency.
G1BTV Rating: 2017-07-12
Simply excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this VCTCXO for my trusty old TS 570D as the original oscillator was drifting too much. I have to endorse all the previous reviews, the frequency is now rock solid and it came already tuned to within 1Hz, verified against WWV. The whole radio is like factory new again.
Recommended
AA5HL Rating: 2015-12-15
Simply the best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the VCTCXO from Bob and he was great. Very accommodating. The unit came in the mail very quick and in the box he furnished instructions on how to install in my TS-870. I followed his instructions carefully. To install the VCTCXO into the 870 you just take off the top cover and speaker. From there you can see the reference oscillator board plugged into the PLL board. I unplugged the SO-2 unit that was on there and desoldered it and soldered on the N3BA VCTCXO. Then I plugged it back into the PLL board and turned on the radio. I allowed the radio to stabilize about 15 minutes. Then I took a DMM to the different test points and tuned to certain frequencies as per the service manual for the TS-870. I aligned everypoint on the PLL board accordingly and put everything back together. Wow!!!! Unbelievable difference. The radio is better than even the SO-2. This is a super stable reference oscillator circuit that made the radio perform 110% better than ever. It truly is a masterpiece. Thanks Bob for the good work and I know for a fact he had more made. I highly suggest you get one and if you need one to go in an SO-1 slot I think Bob has it too. Anyone have any other questions regarding my experience with it, feel free to email me. I suggest you get this circuit and thanks again Bob for the incredible work.

73,

Dave AA5HL